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London cyclist says 'invisible' retractable dog lead stretched across path cut through his clothing and injured himPath in Blackheath (via StreetView).jpg

London cyclist says 'invisible' retractable dog lead stretched across path cut through his clothing and injured him

Victim said dog and owner were both some way from the path
by Alex Bowden
Fri, Jun 30, 2017 14:47
37

A London cyclist has written to Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greenwich and Lewisham councils about the use of retractable dog leads. Robert Perkins suffered slashes to his face, back and clothes as a result of an ‘almost invisible’ lead stretched across a path in Blackheath.

London News Online reports that Perkins was cycling along a path near the pond on Prince of Wales Road at around 8pm on June 12 when the incident happened.

“Travelling south on my bicycle, I was completely unaware that the dog leash was stretching across the path until colliding with it. The friction of the moving cord cut through my clothing and the cord jumped to my face causing the injuries. The dog’s owner was also injured by the leash.”

He added: “The leash was so thin it was almost invisible and it was so long, both the woman and her dog were both some distance from the path. I went to the hospital for treatment but did not need stitches – I am just hoping the slashes will heal up without too much scarring.”

Perkins wants to highlight the potential hazard of people using retractable leads across pathways in open spaces.

“I am likely not the first cyclist that has been involved in such an incident, and fear I will not be the last. While I realise that the green spaces must be shared by many users, my understanding is that dog owners are legally obliged to keep their dogs under control at all times in public – something which is effectively impossible with the use of these types of leads.”

Nicholas Sanderson, senior policy officer at Sustrans, walking and cycling charity, said: “We’re very sorry to hear that Mr Perkins was badly hurt while cycling on the path on Blackheath.  Shared-use paths like this provide valuable spaces to travel, free of traffic. Sharing the space requires everyone, including walkers and cyclists, to use paths carefully and to be mindful of others.”

He added: “With more people travelling around London as the city grows, it’s vital the mayor and local councils continue to expand the network of safe cycle routes to support the growing number of Londoners travelling by bike.”

In 2015, a man knocked off his bike by an out-of-control dog on a retractable lead won a £65,000 payout from the dog’s owner.

Anthony Steele had suffered a fractured skull when the dog leapt into his path while he was training for a Coast to Coast to event in Heysham in 2012.

London
dog lead
Blackheath
Robert Perkins
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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37 comments

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hawkinspeter replied to keirik | 7 years ago
4 likes

keirik wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Those leads are only for people who haven't/won't train their dogs sufficiently.

Whilst I agree a lot of people use them because they can't be arsed to train their dog I have one I occasionally use with my rescued dog so he can have a bit of a run around without being off lead - because despite our best efforts to train him if he gets spooked no amount of training can overcome his fear as he legs it from whatever has scared him,

I appreciate where you're coming from and rescue dogs can be very traumatised from improper care and training. I'd still prefer to use a short lead though, as if the dog gets spooked, it's a lot easier to immediately control a dog on a short lead than a long one.

Avatar
keirik replied to hawkinspeter | 7 years ago
0 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

keirik wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Those leads are only for people who haven't/won't train their dogs sufficiently.

Whilst I agree a lot of people use them because they can't be arsed to train their dog I have one I occasionally use with my rescued dog so he can have a bit of a run around without being off lead - because despite our best efforts to train him if he gets spooked no amount of training can overcome his fear as he legs it from whatever has scared him,

I appreciate where you're coming from and rescue dogs can be very traumatised from improper care and training. I'd still prefer to use a short lead though, as if the dog gets spooked, it's a lot easier to immediately control a dog on a short lead than a long one.

 

yep not going to disagree, Bruce spends 95% of his time on a standard lead that is actually attached to me to stop him ripping it out of my hand. The extender is for if I'm on the beach or in a field so he can have a bit of a run - I actually prefer a very long non- retracting horse lunge line - and there's no way anyone could miss that, but he tends to tie me in knots with that

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to keirik | 7 years ago
1 like

keirik wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

keirik wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Those leads are only for people who haven't/won't train their dogs sufficiently.

Whilst I agree a lot of people use them because they can't be arsed to train their dog I have one I occasionally use with my rescued dog so he can have a bit of a run around without being off lead - because despite our best efforts to train him if he gets spooked no amount of training can overcome his fear as he legs it from whatever has scared him,

I appreciate where you're coming from and rescue dogs can be very traumatised from improper care and training. I'd still prefer to use a short lead though, as if the dog gets spooked, it's a lot easier to immediately control a dog on a short lead than a long one.

 

yep not going to disagree, Bruce spends 95% of his time on a standard lead that is actually attached to me to stop him ripping it out of my hand. The extender is for if I'm on the beach or in a field so he can have a bit of a run - I actually prefer a very long non- retracting horse lunge line - and there's no way anyone could miss that, but he tends to tie me in knots with that

haha, my brother has burns above his ankles from bastard dogs on long lines that are practically untrainable. Bloody lines get cameras in mud, ends up all over your trousers.

It's not the leads that are the problem, or dogs, it's the idiots in control of them.

That said, I've had to hurdle a few dopey dogs in the past, not sure I could have bunny-hopped them!

 

Avatar
Grizzerly | 7 years ago
8 likes

Those things are a bloody menace.  I regularly cycle on park roads and I have learned to look out for the owners holding them.   Most people are careful, but there are always the odd ones.   The worst one I have seen was about 5mm thick and pale blue/grey.   It had a middle-aged lady on one end and a small  King Charles spaniel on the other.   I saw it at the last moment and managed to stop just touching it.  I pointed out to her that I am a responsible and slow moving pensioner and managed to stop,   whereas a fast moving teenager might well have hit the lead and probably broken her dogs neck.

 

Avatar
morgoth985 | 7 years ago
10 likes

I hate those extendable leads.   The dog is not under control and IMO a dog on an extendable lead should be treated as being off the lead.

Avatar
hari11 replied to morgoth985 | 7 years ago
4 likes

Morgoth985 wrote:

I hate those extendable leads.   The dog is not under control and IMO a dog on an extendable lead should be treated as being off the lead.

 

totally agree

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 7 years ago
8 likes

Cyclist going too fast on shared path, is what some will say.

These leads are ridiculous and I see them on the roads. Person holding lead, 3m of lead on a 1.5m wide path. How does this stop stupid dog from running into the road? I feel sorry for the dogs.

Dog owner response on shared path is likely to be that it is on a lead and to blame the victim while being totally unaware of their own antisocial behaviour.

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